Method and means of vacuumizing and double seaming



Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,641

C. PICKLES METHOD AND MEANS VACUUMIZING AND DOUBLE SEAMING Filed Oct 8 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,641

q. PICKLES METHOD AND MEANS VACUUNIZING AND DOUBLE SEAHING Filed Oct. 8 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,1 ATTORNEY Q INVEA'YTOR. by lma/ 14 Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,641

' C. PICKLES I METHOD AND MEANS VACUUMIZING AND DOUBLE SEAMING Filed 001;. 8, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR,

MM BY=g% Qaw- ATTORNEY Patented @ct. 5%, 192583.

CHARLES EPICKLES, 01 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIEQRNIA,

ASSIGNOR TD ERIQAN CAN CQMEANY, OF SAN FRANCISCU, GALIITFURNIA, A. CORBORATIONOF NEW EERSEY.

METHOD AND MEANS VAGUUMIZING AND DQTUBLE SEWING;

Application filed fictober 8, 1923. Serial No. 667,320.

My invention applies to a method and means of vacuumizing and closing a container by the double seaming process.

It has been customary in vacuumizing a canprevious to closing the same in a double seaming or closing machine to place the filled container with the cover loosely applied thereto within a vacuum chamber, remove the air from within the chamber and the container and then double seaming the cover to the can while in the vacuum chamber.

When only a small number of cans are required to be closed within a given time the above mentioned method is adequate for vacuumizing and double seaming the covers onto the containers. With the recent great advance in the art of so called double seaming it has been possible to attain a great speed of production in the double seamer or closing machines. In actual practice it has been found that cans are successfully closed within such a machine at a rate of 60 per minute. At

- this speed of production it has been found impossible to properly vacuumize because the lapse of time between the time when thevacuum is applied and the time the first operation seaming roll closes the can fIOIILthQ vacuumizing means, is too short to permit all the air to leave the can."

I have found by experiment thatEy-cforming the loose connection between the v ange of the cover and the flange of a can body so as to provide a greater space than heretofore to exist between the upper surface of the flange and the lower surface of the flange of the corresponding can cover, that I am able to more readily and efliciently remove the air from within the container and in a much shorter space of time than possible under present vacuumization. In actual practice I have found it impossible under the old methods to obtain a greater degree of vacuum within the container than approximately fifteen points, while by my improved method I find it is very easy while running at a very high speed of production for example at sixty cans per minute to obtain a vacuum within the container of approximately twenty-five points. I have found that by providing either the flange of the can cover or the flange of the can body with sufiicient circumferentially disposed indentations, thatthe required spaceis obtained or provided for quickly removing the necessary volume of air within the con tainer and at the same time these indentations are completely obliterated or ironed out by 1 the subsequent action of the seaming roll.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, eflicient increased area of passage between the flange of a can body and the flange of its corresponding can cover when they are positioned within the closing ma chine just previous to uniting, in order to permitthe rapid removal of air within the container enclosed in the vacuum chamber.

A further object of my invention is to provide a flange of the can cover or of the can body which while permitting the removal of a suflicient quantity of air from within the con tainer, forms no obstruction to the ordinary double seaming process.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cheap, efficient flange arrangement of the can cover or of a can body which while permitting a volume of air to be abstracted during the vacuumizing process, is adapted to be incorporated in the ordinary double seam union between the said flanges.

I A still further object of my invention is to provide a flange for the purpose described which can be formed in the regular standard flangers without any extra operation.

Figure .1 is a side elevation of a can body illustrating the depressed flange.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the can body.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 2 of the drawings, showing the can end in position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4: of Figure 2 of the,

drawings, disclosing the can cover.

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the first operation seam illustrating how the deressions in the flange of the can body are obliterated or ironed out by a seaming roll.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a cam showing the can cover in place.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the can cover. Fig. 8 is a sectionalview taken substantially along the line 3*3 of Fig. 7 of the drawings, showing the opening between the flange of the can and the flange of the can cover at these points.

Fig. 9 is a sectlonal view taken substan tially along the line 44 of Fig. 7 of the drawings, showing the flange of the can and the depressed part of the can cover in contact.

Fig. 10 is a sectional View showing the first operation seam illustrating how the depressions in the can cover are obliterated or ironed out by a seaming roll.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross section and plan View showing containers with, their covers embodying said circumferentially disposed recesses or air spaces, being conveyed first into a vacuumizing chamber, then into a gassing chamber, and finally into a double seaming and closing machine.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 5 thereof inclusive, the numeralll represents the can body formed at its mouth with an outstanding peripheral flange 12. Adapted to be positioned upon the flange 12 of the can body 11 is a standard can cover 13 provided with an outstanding circumferential flange l4 suitable to be interfolded with the flange 12 in any well known manner to form a double seam, thereby obtaining a hermetic sanitary closure. The end 13 is preferably formed with a central depression or shoulder 16 adapted to fit the interior of the flange 12.

In operation the end is superimposed upon the flange 12 and is centrally located due to the shoulder 16. The flanges are next operated upon to form the well known double seam.

This particular type of can, I wish, to be vacuumized and gassed just before the double seaming operation takes place in the same machine or in an adjacent separate machine. In order that this may take place and at the same time have the end in position for sealing I provide a multiple of arcuate depressions 15 equally spaced and formed in the circumference of the flange 12 of the can body 11. It will be obvious that when the cover or end 13 is applied to the can body 11 contact will be made with the flange 12 as shown in Figure 4, with the exception of the portions where the depressions 15 appear. At these depressions 15 openings 17 will result as shown in Figure 3. This allows free passage to incoming or outgoing atmosphere or gases.

With the cans and covers loosely assembled in this fashion they are now ready to be conveyed into a vacuumizing and gassing chamber and from the latter to a double seaming or other closing machine. A preferred method is illustrated in Fig. 11, which shows can bodies 11 delivered by an endless chain conveyor 19 to the pockets of a turret valve can carrier 20, which rotates in clockwise direction and whose Vertical circumferential side walls make an air tight contact with the correspondingly curved flanged wall parts 21 of the vacuum chamber 22 which is under a constant practical vacuum, being connected by means of the pipe 23 with any suitable air exhausting means, such as a suction pump (not shown). The time which elapses while the containers are being conveyed through the vacuum chamber is very short, but owing to said circumferentially disposed recesses in the cover flange or body flange it is suflicient for the air within the container and the contents thereof to be substantially exhausted. A second endless chain conveyer 19 receives the cans 11 from the first turret 20 and 'delivers them to a second turret valve carrier 24 of the same construction and direction of movement as the carrier 20. This turret 24E conducts the cans to another endless chain conveyer 19 moving within the gassing chamber 25 which by means of a pipe 26 is connected with a source of compressed gas, such as e. o. 2 or nitrogen gas. This gas while the containers are travelling through the gas chamber promptly fills up the vacuum created within the containers and the latter are then discharged by a turret valve 27 upon still another endless chain conveyer 19 and by the latter carried to a star wheel 28 which conducts the gassed containers to a double seam-' ing or other suitable closing machine 29 where the indented or recessed flanges of the can body and can cover are double seamed into a hermetic seal, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 10. In order that the pocket of the third turret valve 27, which has been emptied of a container, may not upon its return to the interior of the gassing chamber carry with it atmospheric air and thus adulterate the gas within the gassing chamber, a suction pipe 30 connecting with a suitable air exhausting means leads into the curved flanged wall part 21 of the gas chamber and any air carriedin with said pocket is thus removed. The four endless conveyers 19, 19, 19", and 19 are independent of each other and are so constructed and positioned that they do not interfere with the vacuumizing or gassing operation, it being understood that the turrets 20, 24 and 27 not only make an air tight contact with the curved flanged wall parts 21, but also with top and bottom plates.

(not shown). I want itunderstood that my improved method and apparatus is not to be limited to a combination of vacuumizing, gassing and double seaming operations, but my improved container may be used in connection with any one of the three operations or in connection with any combination of them.

The depressions which have been described and illustrated as being formed in the flange of the can body may, if so desired, be applied to the flange of the can cover and by Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive of thedrawings, the said depression-s are so illustrated.- By reference to said views it will be noted that the outstanding circumferentially disposed flange 14 of the can cover or end 13 is provided with a series of inclined depressions 15 isu equally spaced and formed in the circumference of the can cover or end 13 as illustrated by Fig. 6 of the drawings and the end of the cover 13' is preferablyformed with a central depression or shoulder 16. It will be obvious with the flange of the cover or can end so constructed or provided with the inclined depressions 15 that when the cover or end 13 is applied to the can body 11, the depressions 15 will contact with the outstanding circumferentially disposed flange 12 of the can body 11, Fig. 9 of the drawings, permitting the cover or end 13 toibe held in raised position, Fig. 8 of the drawings, so as to leave or provide an annular opening 17 between the shoulder 16 of the can cover or end and the can body 11 which allows free passage to incoming or outgoing atmosphere or gases. In this position the can and contents as heretofore described are subjected to the vacuumizing and gassing after which the cover or end is double seamed to the body. As in the case of the body where provided with the arcuate depressions in the flange thereof and with the cover loosely applied thereto and subjected to va'uumizing ant gassing, when the seaming devices arebrought into operative position the first operation is performed by a seaming roll 18 and the depressions 15' in the flange of the can cover or end are entirely obliterated or ironed out and thereafter the regular standard double seam may be completed in the regular manner.

My improved form of can is well adapted for t i e exhausting or air from within it, and

also for the introductionof a gas, neutral or preserving, into the can after it has been vacuumized, or for air.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination a metallic container pro vided with an annular double seaming flange, a can cover adapted to fit the container and having an annular flange portion adapted to overlie and interlock with the flange of the can body, and spaced depressions formed in the flange of the can cover for supporting the can cover upon the flange of the metal container and to provide space between the lower surface of the flange of the container, said depressions being arranged about said flange and spaced apart from each other.

2. In combination a metallic container, a cover therefor provided with an annular double seaming flange having restricted portions thereof bent downwardly at intervals from each other to contact with the upper edge of the container and to normally hold the principal part of the flange of the cover out of contact with the flange of the container.

3. In combination a metallic container having a double seaming flange, a cover therefor the purpose of expelling 'mally existing provided with an annular flange having depressed portions bent down at intervals from each other and adapted to rest upon the upper end of the container and provide a space between the container and the cover.

4:. The method of vacuumizing and forming v flanged metallic a hermetic seal between a container and flanged cover, which consists in loosely positioning on the container a flanged cover having integral supporting portions in the flange thereof adapted to hold the Cover in position relative to the flange of the container, and thereby providing a free air space between the container and cover, removing the air from within the container through said space while the assembled members are within a vacuumizing chamber, forcing the cover into position within the container, and finally interfolding the flange of the cover with the flange of the container and thereby ironing out the supporting portion of the cover flange and forming a double seam for hermetically sealing the container.

5. The method of hermetically sealing containers of food products, which comprises filling a flanged container, loosely positioning a flanged cover thereto and holding the main part of the cover flange spaced above the container flange to leave a pre-determined air space'between the portions of the flanges of said members in excess of that existing between the major portions of said flanges, removing the air from within the container through said space while the assembled members are positioned within a vacuumizing chamber, forcing the cover firmly onto the container, and finally interfolding the flange of the cover with the flange of the container to close the air space and form a double seam for hermetically sealing the container.

6. A container adapted for use in the vacuumizing and hermetic sealing of food products, the same comprising a closed bottomed and flanged open end member and a flanged cover member therefor, and depressions in the flange of one of said members for supporting the flange of its associated member a distance therefrom to provide free air spaces at portions thereof in excess of the space norbetween the remaining portions of the flanges, said depressions being adapted to be ironed out on the interfolding of the flanges during double seaming thereof to provide a hermetic seal for the container.

7. In combination a can body flanged for double seaming, a flanged can cover for loosely positioning thereon and adapted to be double seamed therewith, the opposing surface of one of said flanges provided with an undulation causing a substantial area of said flanges to lie in spaced relation forming a pas sage for the ready inlet and outlet of fluids.

8'. In combination a can body flanged for double seaming, a flanged can cover for loose ly. positioning thereon and adapted to be double seamed therewith, a portion of the op posing surface of one of said flanges being oil set from the plane of the remainder of the flange causing a substantial area of said flanges to lie in spaced relation forming a passage for the ready inlet and outlet of fluids.

9. In combination a can body flanged for double seaming, a flanged can cover adapted to be double seamed with said body, spaced recesses in one of said flanges, said recesses causing a substantial area of said flanges to be spaced apart to provide ready inlet and outlet passages for fluids.

10. The method of vacuumizing, gassing and hermetically sealing filled containers which comprises filling a flanged container, loosely positioning a flanged cover thereto, providing spaced recesses in either the body flange or cover flange, or both, which leaves predetermined fluid passageways between said flanges, exhausting the air from said container, replacing said exhausted air with a gas and finally folding said flanges into a hermetic seal.

11. The method of vacuumizing filled containers, which comprises filling a flanged container, loosely positioning a flanged cover thereto, providing spaced recesses in either the body flange or cover flange, or both, which leaves predetermined passageways between said flanges and exhausting the air from said container through said passageways. V

12. The method of vacuumizing and sealing filled containers, which comprises filling a flanged container, loosely positioning a flanged cover thereto, providing spaced recesses in either the body flange or cover flange, which leaves predetermined passage ways between said flanges, exhausting the air from said container through said passageways and finally folding said flanges into a hermetic seal.

18. The method of gassing filled containers which comprises filling a flanged container, loosely positioning a flanged cover thereto, providing spaced recesses in either the body flange or cover flange, or both, which leaves predetermined fluid passageways between said flanges, and introducing gas through said passageways.

the body flangeor cover flange, or both, which leaves predetermined fluid passageways between said flanges, processmg said container.

and permitting the processing fluids tofreely pass through said passageways.

16; A sanitary can cover having a depressed central panel and an annular double seaming flange thereabout, said flange having portions projected by depressions formed therein to a plane below the normal plane of the flange, said depressions being arranged about said'flange within the area of double seaming so as to be obliterated to produce a double seamed sanitary can. v

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES PICKLES, 

